Leaders from North Eastern have appealed for assistance from the national government to stop the invasion of locusts in Garissa, Mandera and Wajir counties.
The leaders led by Eldas MP Adan Keynan and Mandera Senator Maalim Mohamed said the government needs to come up with intervention measures before the matter gets worse.
Keynan asked the government to help spray the areas that have been invaded by swarms of locusts that could provoke an unprecedented crisis.
Speaking at Parliament buildings on Thursday, Keynan said the residents will be forced to resort to relief food for them and their livestock if the issue is not handled soonest.
“We are appealing to the government to intervene and provide aerial sprays using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).”
“We have seen drought and torrential rains kill our people and animals and now we have locusts. The government, through the ministries of Defence, Agriculture and Devolution, among other agencies, should come to the rescue of residents of northern Kenya,” said Keynan.
Mandera Senator on his part asked the government to move with speed to prevent the locusts from spreading to other parts of the country that could affect the regions’ food security and livelihoods of the residents.
“The main source of livelihood in these affected areas is livestock and the destructive nature of these pests cannot be ignored. They destroy vegetation enough to feed about 25 camels in a day. They could wipe out the country’s vegetation cover in six months,” said Mohamed.